Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana H.Wendl. & Drude

A slender-stemmed palm with a ringed trunk and arching pinnate leaves, to 4m long, and pendant racemes of small lilac flowers followed by ovoid red fruit.  To 20m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Beadle].  ‘The palm commonly planted as Seaforthia elegans (in the USA) is Archontophoenix cunninghamiana.’  [Hortus Second]. 

Horticultural & Botanical History

No data.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.925/1850] and probably obtained locally.  Although plants under this name were obviously grown earlier, Seaforthia elegans was also obtained from the Sydney Botanic Garden on 17th October 1853 [RBGS AB].  A less likely identification for Seaforthia elegans is Archontophoenix alexandrae F.Muell. which see.

Notes

Published Mar 06, 2009 - 02:50 PM | Last updated Jul 14, 2010 - 02:39 PM

Family Arecaceae
Category
Region of origin

Eastern Australia, including the Illawarra

Synonyms

 

  • Seaforthia elegans Hook.
  • Ptychosperma cunninghamiana H.Wendl.
  • Ptychosperma elegans Hort.
Common Name

Bangalow palm, Illawarra palm, Piccabeen palm

Name in the Camden Park Record

Seaforthia elegans

Confidence level medium